A commanding display from Mooney and Sciver-Brunt
Beth Mooney delivered a key performance for the Trent Rockets, guiding them to a commanding victory over the Welsh Fire in Cardiff. The Rockets chased down a target of 130 runs with 17 balls to spare, largely due to Mooney's brilliant 57 off 35 deliveries. She shared a vital opening partnership with Sophia Dunkley, who made 15 from 17 balls. When the Australian wicketkeeper was dismissed by Em Arlott, England's captain Nat Sciver-Brunt took control, scoring 37 not out in 23 balls to keep the run chase on track.
Ash Gardner provided late support with 10 not out off just 9 balls, ensuring the Rockets' win. Earlier, the Welsh Fire had struggled to put up a competitive score, finishing at 129-3 from their full 100 balls. The Fire's top-order woes were evident when openers Georgia Voll and Ella McCaughan fell in quick succession. Voll was out for 18 and McCaughan for 6 in the span of nine balls, leaving them on 28-2 after 41 deliveries.
Fire's fightback falls short
Despite a strong middle-order effort, the Fire were unable to post a total that could challenge the Rockets. Freya Kemp and captain Sophie Devine offered a partial resurgence, with Kemp scoring 36 not out and Devine hammering 38 runs off 25 balls. Kemp's innings included four fours, while Devine powered two fours and two sixes. However, despite their efforts, the Fire's total was not enough to secure a win in the 2026 season, marking their second consecutive defeat in the Hundred.
Mooney reflected on the Rockets' performance, saying, 'It was a good, all-round performance from everyone. 130 was probably about par, but one big partnership was going to win that game and it did in the end.' She added that early progress in the run chase is crucial and noted that the team's success was due to breaking the chase quickly.
MI London and London Spirit tied in thriller
In a thrilling encounter at the weekend, MI London and the London Spirit played out a tie, with both teams ending on 151 runs. The result was a setback for MI London, who have now failed to win any of their four matches this season and are struggling to climb the table for a spot in the knockout rounds. It looked as if they might finally get their first win when they set a formidable total of 151. However, the Spirit's pursuit proved to be nothing short of dramatic in the final over.
MI London's opening batswoman, Melie Kerr, laid the foundation with an unbeaten 49 off 32 balls. The Jamaican all-rounder Chinelle Henry then took the game into overdrive, scoring a blistering 33 runs from just 12 deliveries. Together, they added 55 runs off 23 balls, with Henry hammering 16 runs from Nadine de Klerk's last three overs. Their explosive partnership propelled MI London to their 151, and it seemed they had the momentum to win.
The London Spirit started their chase with a strong performance, led by Marie Kelly, who made a confident 45 from 25 balls, and Marizanne Kapp, who hit a quickfire 25. The pair formed a 51-run stand with Amy Jones, who was the mainstay of the innings. Despite Kapp's dismissal, Jones seemed to be steering the Spirit toward victory until she was caught off the off-spin of Hayley Matthews. With 27 needed from 22 balls, Jones was dismissed for 38, and the Spirit were forced to chase their remaining runs with nerves.
In the final over, the pressure was immense. Deandra Dottin, a fellow Barbadian, faced Hayley Matthews. Dottin smashed her first delivery for four and was dismissed with the second when the ball was cleanly stopped at extra cover. De Klerk ran out Kerr at deep midwicket, and Dottin needed three runs off the last ball. A two-run dash off the legside sealed the tie and kept the Spirit's hopes alive in the competition.
Marie Kelly, who was named Meerkat Match Hero for the Spirit, admitted to being 'so nervous sat on the side, not being able to do anything about it' during the tense last over. Her calm and composed innings had already played a key role in the Spirit's thrilling finish, and her nerves were finally put to rest as the tie was confirmed with the barest of margins.